Mar
31
Matt gives Oprah a lecture on promoting stupidity.Don Baker and Matt Dillahunty host this clip from The Atheist Experience #502 – www.atheist-experience.com The Atheist Experience is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin.
Mar
31
David Barton is the Evangelical Christian who tries to spread a warped version of American history where our founding is based entirely on Christian values, Thurgood Marshall is de-emphasized in our high school history curriculums ...
Mar
31
Polytheism and Monotheism: a Hindu Perspective Huffington Post (blog) Today, the two most popular theological beliefs in the West are monotheism (the belief in a single all-powerful divinity) and atheism (the belief that there is no divine entity). The Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam preach the ... |
Mar
31
Bret: I’m here with Mike, of Christian Cognition. So Mike, tell us what you do.
Mike: I am a police officer in Michigan... have been for 13 years now.
Bret: How would you describe your work to an alien who doesn’t know what a police officer is?
Mike: There are bad people who either can’t or won’t control their urges to make other peoples’ lives miserable. It is my job to keep them from repeating their actions. sometimes that requires jail time.
Bret: Why doesn’t the government just put cameras everywhere?
Mike: I don’t think Americans like the idea of “big brother” watching everything we do. I’m certainly not in favor of it. As is the case with all government policy, power corrupts and absolute power absolutely corrupts. I only see bad things come out of that.
Bret: And yet, that’s sort of what God is, correct?
Mike: Big brother watching? Explain...
Bret: Well, I’m this alien who knows nothing... but I did hear something about this being called God who watches everything and knows everything. I mean, even aliens know about God.
Mike: That assumes that always watching and knowing is automatically evil. Humans are corrupt, and we’ll corrupt just about everything we touch. I don’t think we can compare God to us in the way we behave and respond.
Bret: So aliens know about God, but I don’t, having never met Him. How would you describe God?
Mike: God is difficult to describe, but He is said to have attributes similar to ours (we call them communicable attributes). For example, love, jealousy, etc are communicable attributes. On the other hand, He also is a being who is so unlike us. Those attributes are what we call incommunicable attributes. For example, his holiness, his omniscience, omnipresence, etc.
Bret: Where do you think God is?
Mike: Wow. Well, that’s challenging. Because He is omnipresent, He is said to be throned in His heavenly kingdom, as well as present among us.
Bret: Does God have any family?
Mike: In a spiritual sense we could say He does: the Bible calls those who put their trust in Him “children”. The Bible speaks a lot about “adoption”, a very deep theme. But the Bible writers used a lot of descriptive language of difficult-to-understand theological topics that people could more easily understand. And “adoption” is one of those themes we understand. We have the possibility of taking children into our families who were not physically born to us. But then, somehow, they become our children. Spiritually, the same occurs with God and us
Bret: That’s right, you have an adopted child.
Mike: I have a son we adopted. He was once a foster child of ours, and we adopted him. We consider him our own. I would have never understood the power of that had I not adopted my own.
Bret: Are you pro-life?
Mike: Very much so. But I can probably guess where you’re going next...especially considering my profession
Bret: Really? Tell me, cause I’m at a loss. If anyone has a right to be pro-life, it’s people who adopt. I can’t stand people who want to foist parenthood on people and they aren’t part of the solution to the real problem, which is all the children out there who need parents.
Mike: “Capitol Punishment” and “police use of deadly force” maybe???
Bret: Eh, liberals are going to kill me, but I believe in capital punishment. And deadly use of force happens, I’m more horrified at how common it is for police to use tasers now. I don’t think they’re rushing for the gun, they seem to be reaching for the taser any time someone is remotely non-compliant. But that’s just the perception from my limited exposure to law enforcement from the media, which only airs the extreme cases.
Mike: I think you’re right though. Many police, rather than calling for backup first, trust solely in the power of the taser as their backup. As mentioned earlier, power corrupts.
Bret: But it’s better than the night-stick or the gun. So I wouldn’t dream of taking the taser away.
Mike: On the flip side, more and more police are being assaulted these days. It shouldn’t be expected of us to simply roll over and take a hit for the citizens.
Bret: There is an extreme amount of hostility towards law enforcement officials. Are there any root causes, in your opinion?
Mike: That’s a hard one to pinpoint. Where I work, racial tension is a huge issue. A sagging economy would probably come in at a close second...people are stressed and angry and want to take it out on others. Sadly, it often happens to be on their loved ones or on police.
Bret: Yeah, which are usually the people there to help, not the cause of their problems. It’s always the people who roll up their sleeves and try to do something, huh?
Mike: Seems that way
Bret: Do you think God feels that way?
Mike: Not sure, but I do know that one day all wrongs will be righted, and justice will be served. That is the hope I have in Christ.
Bret: I hear a lot of atheists say things like, “I don’t believe in God because of the appendix,” implying that if they were in charge, they would have done things “better.” How do you feel about that as an argument against God?
Mike: I’ll be honest with you... you’ll blow me away in the realm of science. I’m not so proud to say there’s a lot I don’t know...and I’m not afraid to admit it.
Bret: Obviously you never read my college transcript...
Mike: But I know that there are things that exist that we may consider useless or bad, but maybe we just don’t understand the purpose behind it. One can only guess...
Bret: What to you is the single most compelling reason to be Christian?
Mike: Great question. The most compelling to me is my knowledge of my sin. I am convinced sin is what’s wrong with the world...I am what’s wrong with the world. I prove daily that I am in need of a Savior. I believe that Savior to be Jesus Christ. The Resurrection assures Jesus is like none other.
Bret: Do you feel being Christian can make you a better person, or is it just about getting saved and you’re pretty much who you are regardless of your religion?
Mike: I know many people who have found reasons to be “better” people. My issue is not so much about trying to be “better”. Instead, it’s about dealing with my sin. If God is holy and I am not, then I stand to face some serious consequences. As I trust Christ for salvation and my sin has been dealt with and is in the process of being dealt with...and will be dealt with in the future, how can that not cause me to be a better person? I have no choice but to be gracious with others, merciful, thankful, etc.
Bret: I’m tempted to ask you what’s the worst sin you’re willing to publicly confess to...
But that would be pretty Catholic of me.
Mike: I’m not willing, sorry. I’ve confessed it only to a couple close people. It’s pretty heinous, I confess. And not I’m not referring to something so simplistic as stealing a candy bar. Much worse.
Bret: So you stole a candy bar?
Mike: I struggle with things unbelievers struggle with. Porn. Anger.
Bret: You struggle with porn? I can refer you to free sites. No sense in dealing with those complex credit card accounts.
Mike: Thanks for helping! That’s funny.
Bret: Hey, if you’re struggling, you’re probably doing it wrong. And I think anger comes with your job. I don’t know how anyone can be surrounded by the kinds of people you interact with and keep all their marbles. Aren’t we all entitled to a few holes punched in the wall?
Mike: No joke, there! It is a daily struggle to not throat-punch a few people.
Bret: Okay, last question for this interview: Who’s better, Buddha or Mohammed?
Mike: I don’t know much about Buddha. However, I have read a large bulk of the Qu’ran and a few books written by clerics. Muhammad’s writing was confused...he’s illogical, he changed his mind a lot, etc. I guess I can’t really answer, cuz I don’t favor either. Sorry!
Bret: I would just say Mohammed, because no Buddhist will kill you for saying so.
Mike: Hahahaha
Bret: Alright, good night, and thanks for doing this. Hope we can do it again soon.
Mike: Absolutely! It inspires me to think more!!!!
Bret: Thinking is fun... sometimes.
Mike: G’nite, friend.
Mike: I am a police officer in Michigan... have been for 13 years now.
Bret: How would you describe your work to an alien who doesn’t know what a police officer is?
Mike: There are bad people who either can’t or won’t control their urges to make other peoples’ lives miserable. It is my job to keep them from repeating their actions. sometimes that requires jail time.
Bret: Why doesn’t the government just put cameras everywhere?
Mike: I don’t think Americans like the idea of “big brother” watching everything we do. I’m certainly not in favor of it. As is the case with all government policy, power corrupts and absolute power absolutely corrupts. I only see bad things come out of that.
Bret: And yet, that’s sort of what God is, correct?
Mike: Big brother watching? Explain...
Bret: Well, I’m this alien who knows nothing... but I did hear something about this being called God who watches everything and knows everything. I mean, even aliens know about God.
Mike: That assumes that always watching and knowing is automatically evil. Humans are corrupt, and we’ll corrupt just about everything we touch. I don’t think we can compare God to us in the way we behave and respond.
Bret: So aliens know about God, but I don’t, having never met Him. How would you describe God?
Mike: God is difficult to describe, but He is said to have attributes similar to ours (we call them communicable attributes). For example, love, jealousy, etc are communicable attributes. On the other hand, He also is a being who is so unlike us. Those attributes are what we call incommunicable attributes. For example, his holiness, his omniscience, omnipresence, etc.
Bret: Where do you think God is?
Mike: Wow. Well, that’s challenging. Because He is omnipresent, He is said to be throned in His heavenly kingdom, as well as present among us.
Bret: Does God have any family?
Mike: In a spiritual sense we could say He does: the Bible calls those who put their trust in Him “children”. The Bible speaks a lot about “adoption”, a very deep theme. But the Bible writers used a lot of descriptive language of difficult-to-understand theological topics that people could more easily understand. And “adoption” is one of those themes we understand. We have the possibility of taking children into our families who were not physically born to us. But then, somehow, they become our children. Spiritually, the same occurs with God and us
Bret: That’s right, you have an adopted child.
Mike: I have a son we adopted. He was once a foster child of ours, and we adopted him. We consider him our own. I would have never understood the power of that had I not adopted my own.
Bret: Are you pro-life?
Mike: Very much so. But I can probably guess where you’re going next...especially considering my profession
Bret: Really? Tell me, cause I’m at a loss. If anyone has a right to be pro-life, it’s people who adopt. I can’t stand people who want to foist parenthood on people and they aren’t part of the solution to the real problem, which is all the children out there who need parents.
Mike: “Capitol Punishment” and “police use of deadly force” maybe???
Bret: Eh, liberals are going to kill me, but I believe in capital punishment. And deadly use of force happens, I’m more horrified at how common it is for police to use tasers now. I don’t think they’re rushing for the gun, they seem to be reaching for the taser any time someone is remotely non-compliant. But that’s just the perception from my limited exposure to law enforcement from the media, which only airs the extreme cases.
Mike: I think you’re right though. Many police, rather than calling for backup first, trust solely in the power of the taser as their backup. As mentioned earlier, power corrupts.
Bret: But it’s better than the night-stick or the gun. So I wouldn’t dream of taking the taser away.
Mike: On the flip side, more and more police are being assaulted these days. It shouldn’t be expected of us to simply roll over and take a hit for the citizens.
Bret: There is an extreme amount of hostility towards law enforcement officials. Are there any root causes, in your opinion?
Mike: That’s a hard one to pinpoint. Where I work, racial tension is a huge issue. A sagging economy would probably come in at a close second...people are stressed and angry and want to take it out on others. Sadly, it often happens to be on their loved ones or on police.
Bret: Yeah, which are usually the people there to help, not the cause of their problems. It’s always the people who roll up their sleeves and try to do something, huh?
Mike: Seems that way
Bret: Do you think God feels that way?
Mike: Not sure, but I do know that one day all wrongs will be righted, and justice will be served. That is the hope I have in Christ.
Bret: I hear a lot of atheists say things like, “I don’t believe in God because of the appendix,” implying that if they were in charge, they would have done things “better.” How do you feel about that as an argument against God?
Mike: I’ll be honest with you... you’ll blow me away in the realm of science. I’m not so proud to say there’s a lot I don’t know...and I’m not afraid to admit it.
Bret: Obviously you never read my college transcript...
Mike: But I know that there are things that exist that we may consider useless or bad, but maybe we just don’t understand the purpose behind it. One can only guess...
Bret: What to you is the single most compelling reason to be Christian?
Mike: Great question. The most compelling to me is my knowledge of my sin. I am convinced sin is what’s wrong with the world...I am what’s wrong with the world. I prove daily that I am in need of a Savior. I believe that Savior to be Jesus Christ. The Resurrection assures Jesus is like none other.
Bret: Do you feel being Christian can make you a better person, or is it just about getting saved and you’re pretty much who you are regardless of your religion?
Mike: I know many people who have found reasons to be “better” people. My issue is not so much about trying to be “better”. Instead, it’s about dealing with my sin. If God is holy and I am not, then I stand to face some serious consequences. As I trust Christ for salvation and my sin has been dealt with and is in the process of being dealt with...and will be dealt with in the future, how can that not cause me to be a better person? I have no choice but to be gracious with others, merciful, thankful, etc.
Bret: I’m tempted to ask you what’s the worst sin you’re willing to publicly confess to...
But that would be pretty Catholic of me.
Mike: I’m not willing, sorry. I’ve confessed it only to a couple close people. It’s pretty heinous, I confess. And not I’m not referring to something so simplistic as stealing a candy bar. Much worse.
Bret: So you stole a candy bar?
Mike: I struggle with things unbelievers struggle with. Porn. Anger.
Bret: You struggle with porn? I can refer you to free sites. No sense in dealing with those complex credit card accounts.
Mike: Thanks for helping! That’s funny.
Bret: Hey, if you’re struggling, you’re probably doing it wrong. And I think anger comes with your job. I don’t know how anyone can be surrounded by the kinds of people you interact with and keep all their marbles. Aren’t we all entitled to a few holes punched in the wall?
Mike: No joke, there! It is a daily struggle to not throat-punch a few people.
Bret: Okay, last question for this interview: Who’s better, Buddha or Mohammed?
Mike: I don’t know much about Buddha. However, I have read a large bulk of the Qu’ran and a few books written by clerics. Muhammad’s writing was confused...he’s illogical, he changed his mind a lot, etc. I guess I can’t really answer, cuz I don’t favor either. Sorry!
Bret: I would just say Mohammed, because no Buddhist will kill you for saying so.
Mike: Hahahaha
Bret: Alright, good night, and thanks for doing this. Hope we can do it again soon.
Mike: Absolutely! It inspires me to think more!!!!
Bret: Thinking is fun... sometimes.
Mike: G’nite, friend.
Mar
31
The American Humanist Association is promoting its conference (taking place next weekend) with print ads (PDF) and a billboard featuring Richard Dawkins: As far as a billboard goes, it doesn't do much for me. Too many words… and not a ...
Mar
31
"I am convinced that if we do not decisively win the struggle over the nature of America, by the time they're my age they will be in a secular atheist country, potentially one dominated by radical Islamists and with no understanding of ...
Mar
31
Atheist transit ads in Kamloops a first in BC BCLocalNews Two Kamloops buses will be the first in BC to carry the controversial messages promoting atheism. BC Transit has approved the ads, which will be seen on two buses in Kamloops for four weeks, beginning the week ... |
Mar
31
Just in under the wire for March, having the Fox News feed on my homepage finally paid off. Behold: the most disturbing thing you may ever read. The headline says it all.
“Obese Ohio Man Dies After Being Fused to Chair for 2 Years”
This guy didn’t stand up from his chair in two years. Mind you, this is a chair, not a toilet. When officers arrived at the scene, the man’s skin had “fused” to the fabric of the chair, and he was sitting in his own feces and urine… and maggots. At least they don’t have to worry about a funeral, since the body was already found in turd.
*ba dum bump ch*
Most of this story reads like a bad joke. He was so big, they had to cut a hole in the floor to get him out of the house. One of the officers threw away his uniform after making contact with him during the removal. The landlady never realized because whenever she came over, he would be covered in a blanket. But the most shocking part about this? He was being fed by his girlfriend.
The unnamed man will be remembered for his chilling role in “Seven,” as the 17 year old blonde cheerleader you chatted with online when you were in high school, and for being the envy of everyone who plays World of Warcraft.
“Obese Ohio Man Dies After Being Fused to Chair for 2 Years”
This guy didn’t stand up from his chair in two years. Mind you, this is a chair, not a toilet. When officers arrived at the scene, the man’s skin had “fused” to the fabric of the chair, and he was sitting in his own feces and urine… and maggots. At least they don’t have to worry about a funeral, since the body was already found in turd.
*ba dum bump ch*
Most of this story reads like a bad joke. He was so big, they had to cut a hole in the floor to get him out of the house. One of the officers threw away his uniform after making contact with him during the removal. The landlady never realized because whenever she came over, he would be covered in a blanket. But the most shocking part about this? He was being fed by his girlfriend.
The unnamed man will be remembered for his chilling role in “Seven,” as the 17 year old blonde cheerleader you chatted with online when you were in high school, and for being the envy of everyone who plays World of Warcraft.
Mar
31
Why I Pledge Allegiance To An Atheist America OpEdNews [6] These percentages are consistent with a similar study by Trinity College's, American Religious Identification Survey of 2008 that reports: "Whereas Nones [atheists, agnostics] are presently 15% of the total adult US population, 22% of Americans ... |
Mar
31
Infallible: the fragrance for men who never need to admin they're wrong
How on earth did I miss this?
Source: Newsthump
Mar
31
Atheist F.A.Q.. By - Hemant Mehta. Why do you not believe in God? There is no credible evidence, just like there is no evidence for Gods you don't believe in Thor, Zeus, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, etc. Where do your morals come from? ...
Mar
31
Note: Letter writers' names are changed to protect their privacy. Hi Richard! My husband and I have recently moved from a small town in the bible belt famous for its wholesome, christian values to probably the most liberal college town ...
Mar
31
Atheist bus ads coming to Kelowna the week of April 11. CKFR Between April 11 and 16th, the ads will be placed on two buses in Kelowna and two in Kamloops and will remain in place for at least a month. Justin Trottier National Executive Director at the Centre of Inquiry says they need to raise more money if they ... |
Mar
31
If I had to take a political stance, I would definitely choose anarcho-communism. I've read a lot of books regarding anarcho-communism and it just makes the most sense to me.-Erika
"The plans differ; the planners are all alike..." ~Frederic Bastiat
Do you agree with the following statement?
What I find strange about it is the sudden disdain for something that is "voluntary". Anarcho-capitalists ordinarily seem to celebrate anything that is "voluntary":
And what are the "justly acquired" property rights the narrator in the video refers to? Isn't that the issue? I've stated before that the anarcho-capitalist notion that private property (as we know it) could continue without the state to support it is a fantasy of epic proportions. Without a state, any rights in property would have to be based on something self-evident, such as occupancy and use. Otherwise we would just return to what amounts to de facto mini-states and horrifying hierarchies that could be much worse in some cases than what we have now.
The hyper-individualism celebrated is also misplaced. Individualism, yes, but we must also recognize that we as humans are social beings, and it is normal and natural for us to do things in common (without disparaging or infringing on individual rights).
I'm not an anarcho-communist, by the way, but the anarcho-capitalist support of "private" and "voluntary" (when they approve) hierarchies, such as in the workplace, is anti-anarchist. And it's simply ridiculous to say, as the video does, that the state is not the defender of private property. If it is not the state that is defending capitalist private property now, who is it?
Some other videos for possible discussion:
Anarcho-Communism versus Anarcho-Capitalism
"The plans differ; the planners are all alike..." ~Frederic Bastiat
Do you agree with the following statement?
Collectivism is anti-individual rights. Whether voluntary collectivism or forced collectivism, the hatred for the individual is ever prevalent.
What I find strange about it is the sudden disdain for something that is "voluntary". Anarcho-capitalists ordinarily seem to celebrate anything that is "voluntary":
Voluntaryism is a popular ideology amongst people who like Anarchism but recoil at its leftist implications. By adopting the simple principle, “whatever is voluntary is ethical,” they believe that they have found the high ground, the ruler with which all other ideologies must be evaluated.
Some openly advocate a “rule by landlords,” a sort of extra-small minarchism where whoever owns the land can impose whatever laws he wishes on anyone who works or lives within his land. This is the “ultimate decision-making power” which defines the State: these landowners are effectively rulers over that land. Although they refuse to see this pretty direct deduction (but to be fair, even Rothbard was too blinded by his pro-property bias to see it), it is clear that the voluntaryists who hold to this ideology have nothing to do with Anarchism.
One famous example from the Mises forum is the question of whether we are justified in shaking off someone who is hanging for his life on a flagpole that we own. Many people there were of the opinion that “property rights” alone justified an act which is, to be clear, nothing more than murder.
Most voluntaryists recoil at the idea that their ideology might justify this sort of baseless murder, and as such adopt a “softer” position. They then try to draw a line, beyond which their belief in “property rights” becomes harmless and does not affect other people’s rights. But as I have pointed out in my past exposé of “anarcho-capitalism,” there is no line beyond which voluntaryism, in its support of “property rights,” does not suffer from this sort of contradiction, because “property rights” are by their very nature an obstacle to all other, real human rights.-Check Your Premises: The voluntaryist delusion.
And what are the "justly acquired" property rights the narrator in the video refers to? Isn't that the issue? I've stated before that the anarcho-capitalist notion that private property (as we know it) could continue without the state to support it is a fantasy of epic proportions. Without a state, any rights in property would have to be based on something self-evident, such as occupancy and use. Otherwise we would just return to what amounts to de facto mini-states and horrifying hierarchies that could be much worse in some cases than what we have now.
The hyper-individualism celebrated is also misplaced. Individualism, yes, but we must also recognize that we as humans are social beings, and it is normal and natural for us to do things in common (without disparaging or infringing on individual rights).
I'm not an anarcho-communist, by the way, but the anarcho-capitalist support of "private" and "voluntary" (when they approve) hierarchies, such as in the workplace, is anti-anarchist. And it's simply ridiculous to say, as the video does, that the state is not the defender of private property. If it is not the state that is defending capitalist private property now, who is it?
Some other videos for possible discussion:
Mar
31
I mentioned American Atheists may be putting up a new ad in anticipation of their national convention… and it's now up! (Five of them!) Can you believe it's causing some controversy…? “Even within the atheist community, the idea of 'You ...
Mar
31
Atheist ‘On Faith’ Contributor Slams Religious Americans As Having ‘Mind of a … – NewsBusters (blog)
Atheist 'On Faith' Contributor Slams Religious Americans As Having 'Mind of a ... NewsBusters (blog) A best-selling book recounting a four-year-old child's claims to have briefly visited Heaven while under anesthesia for an appendectomy has "On Faith" contributor Susan Jacoby on a tear. ... |
Mar
31
 TPM LiveWire | Jon Stewart Mocks Bachmann, Gingrich & Cain's 2012 Base-Reaching Strategies ... Huffington Post (satire) But it was Newt Gingrich who got the funniest response from Stewart after he warned of a future, secular, Atheist America, "potentially one dominated by radical Islamists." Atheist Muslims? Stewart had to call him out: "How can a secular Atheist ... Jon Stewart On GOP Prez Candidates: Gays, Muslims, Abortions, Oh My! (VIDEO) Jon Stewart covers the embarrassing moments of GOP presidential hopefuls (Video) Jon Stewart Exposes How GOP Candidates 'Communicate' To Their Base-istan |
Mar
31
-He's been an atheist ever since he was eight. It wound up helping him when a test audience gave an early version of The Office the lowest rating in the history of the BBC. He refused to change a word of it. “I've always done exactly ...
